A Year in Review: 2010

At the close of 2010, take a second to reflect on the top Charlotte Law Library News posts of the year.  The blog posts were determined, by you, the reader, based on how popular you considered them throughout the year.

1. Library Summer Hours. Driven mostly because of the cute cartoon sun, viewers hit this post 3 times as many times as our #2.
2. Home page of the Charlotte Law Library News, which changes weekly based on the blog submission provided by the Charlotte Law Library Team.  The blogs range from announcement of library news to updates in new library technology to funny cartoons drawn in-house.
3. CSL Mobile Reference.  Join our Friends List: We’re available at CSLReference.
4. New in Town? Written by Ms. Jamie Sunnycalb.  From malls to sporting events, she explores the ins and outs of Charlotte’s hot spots and entertainment.  This post is a great guide to Charlotte, especially for the new CharlotteLaw student.
5. Murphy’s Law School: 2. Charlotte Law Library’s original comic created by Access Services Manager, Kim Allman, and CSL former Reference Librarian, Anthony Aycock.
6. Murphy’s Law School 4. The fourth in the series of comics depicting humorous legal scenerios.
7. The North Carolina Bar Exam: Tips and Tricks. A compilation of resources for studying and taking the Bar Exam in North Carolina.
8. North Carolina regulations regarding coyote community. “The law of coyotes in North Carolina is a well-developed common law tradition dating from the earliest years of British rule to the present day. This rich heritage of amusing anecdotes, famous cases, and important contributions to the law of ferae naturae is well documented” in this blog post written by CharlotteLaw’s former reference librarian, Tom Hemstock.
9. Murphy’s Law School. The original comic strip posted for entertainment purposes by the Charlotte Law Library Staff.
10. Thinking that the North Carolina Bar exam is hard???? A comical take on the North Carolina Bar Exam versus Montana’s requirements.

Framing a New Fine

New DMV Laws Take Effect December 1, 2010: Beware of New $100 fine - S.L. 2010-132 (HB 1729)

That frame around your license plate could cost you $100 if it covers up information on your license plate.

Any operator of a motor vehicle who covers any registration plate with any frame or transparent clear or color-tinted cover that makes a number or letter on the plate, the State name on the plate, or a number or month on the registration renewal sticker on the plate illegible commits an infraction and shall be penalized under G.S. 14-3.1

Other new laws concerning animal cruelty and domestic violence, among other topics, also go into effect December 1.

Go here for a complete list of new state laws in North Carolina.

- Mary Susan Lucas -

Welcome CharlotteLaw First Years!

Okay, this is a bit of an early welcome.

You’ve just been accepted to CharlotteLaw and what do you want to do? If you answered “take a fun survey that will help the library make my law school experience even better” well you’re right!  We want to know more about you in this anonymous survey – your research experience, your experience with technology and much more. With this information the library will be able to provide laser-focused research instruction in your Lawyering Process classes.

Don’t worry the survey isn’t too long. Thanks in advance!

Take the Survey!

-Tom Hemstock-

ASPIRE for Alumni

Alert ~ Alert ~ Alert ~ New Program Offered by Lexis ~ Alert ~ Alert ~ Alert

The LexisNexis ASPIRE (Associates Serving Public Interests Research) program allows qualified graduates to access a specified menu of LexisNexis services during the deferral period.

What does that mean for you?

On August 1, your Lexis and Westlaw passwords will no longer allow you to access either database remotely.  You can still use them by coming to the library, but not from your home, office or beach vacation.  The “deferral period” exists between August 1 and the date you are able to start your associate position.  Through ASPIRE, you may be able to access Lexis for free during the deferral period.

Now you ask: How do I qualify for this offer?

To be eligible for LexisNexis access via ASPIRE, you must have accepted an Associate position at a law firm, but are 1) experiencing a deferred fall 2009 start date, and 2) be taking on public interest work during your deferral period.

If qualified, you may register at www.lexisnexis.com/aspire to acquire access.  Upon confirmation of your eligibility and commencement of your public service, Lexis will allow you to continue using your law school student ID to access a robust menu of materials to support your research at no cost.  Be assured that you will not be able to access any materials that would generate additional, unwanted charges.

For additional information, please contact any of the CSL reference librarians.

11th Annual National Military Appreciation Month

“As a nation, we observe and participate in various national cultural and social awareness events through mass media attention and educational curriculum.  However, we have not allocated appropriate recognition of the most important presence in the world today, an entity that impacts each and every American in a significant way, the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

National Military Appreciation Month (May 2009) includes Loyalty Day (1st), VE Day (8th), Military Spouse Appreciation Day (8th), Armed Forces Day (16th), and Memorial Day (25th).  This very important month honors, remembers, recognizes and appreciates all military personnel; those men and women who have served throughout our history and all who now serve in uniform and their families as well as those Americans who have given their lives in defense of our freedoms we all enjoy today.” Click here for more on Military Appreciation Month & how to get involved.

Who do you honor, remember, appreciate and recognize for serving in the armed forces?

*Make sure to swing by the library to see our display dedicated to the military and their services.

What the Hulu!?!

Lately, you might have seen commercials where Alec Baldwin acts as the alien master-mind behind a new website, Hulu.  Well here’s the real deal.  Hulu is the product of a joint venture between News Corp. and NBC Universal, which provides premium TV and movie content free over the web.  Yes, it’s free.

Besides having a great price you can’t beat (again, it’s free), Hulu has two kinds of content.  Hulu has TV shows (FOX and NBC programming) and movies that come in either full episodes/movies or short 2- to 3- minute clips of memorable scenes or interviews with the cast or directors.  Not only does Hulu keep the content up-to-date with the latest episodes of the popular shows but the commercials are extremely minimal.

Newsweek recently ran an article about Hulu, and wrote “unlike YouTube, Hulu had legal access to great content—shows from NBC, Fox and others. And it had great technology—a clean, simple user interface and a smart search engine. Today, just one year after its launch, Hulu has gained the upper hand.”

Cancel your cable, stop buying TV for $2 a pop on iTunes, & go check out Hulu.  After you do, make sure to come back and tell us what you think!

On Display: Practitioner Treatises

Looking for advice on trial practice and procedure?  Or maybe you need a nuts-and-bolts book on health care?  Or education law?

Many of the library’s practice-oriented books are now on display in front of the reference desk.  Here are some of the titles:

• The Law of Later-Life Health Care and Decision Making
• Creating Winning Trial Strategies and Graphics
• Going to Trial: A Step-by-Step Guide to Trial Practice and Procedure
• Model Witness Examinations
• The Clean Water Act Handbook

New books in library

The library continues to add high-quality resources.  Below are some new titles that can be found in the Treatises collection:

• Environmental Science Deskbook – Intended to help environmental lawyers understand the physical, chemical, biological, and statistical terms and concepts necessary for their practice area. 
• Law of Solid Waste, Pollution Prevention and Recycling – Discusses federal, state, and interstate issues concerning air and water pollution, hazardous wastes, nonhazardous wastes, and more.
• Corporate Counsel Guidelines – Two-volume series covering responsibilities of in-house corporate counsel.  Major topics include Sarbanes-Oxley procedures, civil and criminal liability, and compliance issues.
• Federal Grand Jury: A Guide to Law and Practice – Explains the organization and operation of the federal grand jury system.  Major topics include jury selection, evidence, disclosure, and reform.